Overview
- Rice’s corner set up Harry Kane’s second goal in England’s 4-2 win over Croatia on Wednesday, and England led matchday one in non-penalty set-piece expected goals with 1.03.
- Arsenal coaches Mikel Arteta and set-piece specialist Nicolas Jover transformed Rice into a regular dead-ball taker after the 2023–26 seasons, with Rice ranked fourth in Europe’s big five leagues for set-piece chances created in 2025–26 (48).
- Tuchel has made set-pieces a clear training focus for England, rehearsing Arsenal-style deliveries and movements so attackers know where Rice will place the ball in the box.
- Rice was withdrawn around the 72nd–73rd minute with managed lower-back and neural hamstring pain but he has publicly insisted he is fit and ready to play in the next match.
- England face Ghana next and a victory would clinch top spot in Group L, giving the team incentive to lean on rehearsed dead-ball routines as a measurable tournament advantage.